Sheffield United made seven changes from Saturday's game with their FA Cup semi-final with Arsenal in mind. Disjointed and uncoordinated they paid the price.
United returned to Selhurst Park just three days after meeting Crystal Palace. Firmly entrenched in third place they are almost certainly assured of a play-off place.
United had two opportunities to score in the first half. On the half-hour mark Marcel Cas took a throw on the right and when it came back to him his volley was goalbound, before Kelvin Davis dived to his right to palm the shot away for a corner.
Seven minutes later the Dons struck. Peter Hawkins was heavily involved in the build-up pressure. Patrick Agyemang's shot was half stopped, but Neil Shipperley's 20th goal was just a simple tap in.
On the stroke of half time Dean Windass' 30-yard free-kick hit the woodwork.
Windass was never going to get a goal as his 53rd minute effort showed. From close in he forced Davis to save when he really should have scored.
On the hour his free-kick from the edge of the box was twice charged down by the six-man wall and then cleared, before David Connolly scuffed a golden chance in the 52nd minute.
Darren Holloway was the first to go in the book for a challenge on Ben Doane who was stretchered off and subbed.
Paul Peschisolido got the missing habit, with a wonderful chance in the 73rd minute. Three yards out from the left post, under a challenge, he hit his effort wide of the right upright.
The Blades increased their pressure after the Dons went down to ten men for the final seven minutes.
Adam Nowland was yellow carded for a foul on Owen Morrison and then stupidly followed it up in the 83rd minute with a foul on Peschisolido.